Chat with Stuart Scott

Welcome to SportsNation! Every two weeks, ESPN SportsCenter anchor, Stuart Scott, will drop by for a special chat session. The chat not only appears on ESPN.com, but part of the transcript will find it's way into the upcoming edition of ESPN The Magazine!

Marcus (Boston)

I won't criticize LeBron for his personal choices, but I think it's true--he'll never be compared to Michael Jordan. He's now a role player, not an alpha dog. He might win some rings, and good for him, but he's taking the easy way, the safe way, the way the least challenges his own talents. What do you think?

Stuart Scott

(1:42 PM)

Marcus the first thing that stands out--you call him a role player. LeBron is not a role-player. Is it the easy way out? we don't know. He tried for 7 years in Cleveland, now he's going to try something different. I don't get the criticism. My personal choice would have been to try and beat everyone instead of joining forces, but that's nothing more than a personal choice. Doesn't mean I'm going to dump on him for his choice. If LBJ wins three rings in Miami, doi you think he's going to care that a percentage of fans thinks he taking the easy way?

August (Tom's River NJ)

The Cleveland owner said some incredibly stupid things about LeBron. But LeBron's decision not to inform clevelnad of his decision before "The Decision" showed zero class in my book Stu. Not to criticize you Stu, but that whole "Bachlorette" production was an exercise in narcissism. Your comments?

Stuart Scott

(1:48 PM)

Cleveland's owner was an idiot for saying what he said and the way he said it. If LBJ had told Cleveland his decision before he made hios announcement it would have rendered his annoiuncement null and void b/c it would have leaked out. The firtst thing VClevelnbad would have done was alert every newsman of the decision. As a FA LBJ has the right to decide when where and how he's going to make his abnnouncement. I would bnot have made his c=hoice, bvut that was his choice. If he wants to make a big annoiuncement, he could not have told Clevelnad first. We all have romantic notions about our favorite players staying with his own team. If Walter Peyton had gone to play fir the Cardnilas, it would have killed me. But that's for me to get over. As a FA LBJ owed Cleveland nothing. That's not disrespect, its just his right based on rules and bylaws established before he set foot in the NBA. Nacissistic? Star athlete has big decision, ubiquitous sports network is there to cover it. That's what we do. It was a different show than anything Ive ever done, but I am proud of the dozens of people who worked on that show. and for all the criticism it received, a 7.6 cable rating is ginormous. If there's something that disgusts me on TV I don't watch it.

Brad (NM)

Good afternoon Stu, NBA question for you. Since the Heat seem pretty confident they'll be matched up with the Lakers next season, aren't they getting a little ahead of themselves in terms of getting out of the East? With teams like Chicago, Orlando and Boston still to overcome, will their cockiness hinder them at all?

Stuart Scott

(1:53 PM)

Which Heat memeber said they were confident they would face the Lakers. The press conference I saw, no one suggests that they are sure to face the Lakers next year. When I asked LeBron he wanted to go to a rteam that could beat the Lakers right now, he told me on a scale of 1 to 10 his thought process re the Lakers was at zero. His focus is not the Lakers. His focus was on getting to the best team to win a championship. He has played the Celts enough to know he is capable of losing to them. The Haet are not overlooking anu\yone. Well, except maybe the Knicks--oh wait, they got Amare. They are not overlooking even the Knicks.

Sam (Phoenix)

do the Lakers need to make any major moves to counter Miami, or can they repeat with what they had last year?

Stuart Scott

(1:54 PM)

Sam, it's July. Ldt's not discuss X's and O's of matchups just yet. we just got done with the season, the draft, and Lebron agency. Take a beath, enjoy the summer. We'lll talk in November.

Ozzie (Austin, Texas)

Happy birthday, Stuart! I know because it's mine too, though I'm seven years behind you. Are you getting older, or getting better?

Stuart Scott

(1:55 PM)

Ozzie, Happy Birthday, happy 21st!

Stuart Scott

(1:56 PM)

???? I'm getting better, dude. Always remember this--don't count the years, make the years count.

Stuart Scott

(1:56 PM)

And BTW, Ilya Nastasie and old scholl LB wlly Megleberg are the only two sports people I know who share this b day.

Chris Fiegler (Latham,NY)

How did you feel when you heard that New York Yankees Principle Owner George Steinbrenner has Passed Away?

Stuart Scott

(1:58 PM)

Legendary man, legendary influence on the most legendary american sports franchise in history. He could be the biggest SOB but he was very intelligent shrewd man who demanded discipline and excellence. Say a prayer for the Boss.

Sam (Seatlle)

The great John Wooden was the product and reflection of a different era, Stu, when college kids stuck it out for four years and most pro players still made less than the coach. As great as he was, does his legacy have any meaning for the youth of today?

Stuart Scott

(2:01 PM)

Let us all hope so. I would have loved to have played any sport for Coach Wooden. Listening to my good friend Bill walton talk about how wooden shaped him as a man affected me deeply and I hope that the people who knew him and work with him will spread his wisdom and principles. It was never about hoops, it was about being the most character driver man teammate friend father sone brother and husband you could be. That's waht he taught.

Joe (Arlington VA)

I don't get it Stu. Why won't Mayweather and Pacquio fight? This is ridiculous. Are they both too chicken, or what?

Stuart Scott

(2:03 PM)

Joe I don't get it either. It has the potential to be one of the best five fights in the history of boxing. The sport needs this bout at this time more than it has ever needed any fight. And both stand to make a mint. I don't know if its fear, I doubt it. It's probably ego.

dennis (Columbus Ohio)

Tiger is very selective about the tournaments he plays, and he favors certain courses like Pebble Beach and St Andrews. But he is still winless this year, and he's not getting any younger. Are you as confident as you were a year ago that he will break Jack's record 18 majors?

Stuart Scott

(2:06 PM)

Yes. It's been a tough year ... You think? If you know golf, someone once said, its 90% mental, the other 10% is mental. He has been great his whole career. You can argue he's the best who ever lived. You see this year, but you know what he's been thru. Life altering gut wrenching, family, wife, tabloid, everything, you can see the cause and effect. But he will come back at some point.

Stuart Scott

(2:07 PM)

Let the dude get his mind right.

James (Georgia)

What's up with terrell Owens? Will he find a team? Why are so many turning him down?

Stuart Scott

(2:09 PM)

B/c he's 35-36 years old. TO for all of his fun drama will go to HOF, one of the better WRs who ever played. But most WR slow down at his age. If you want and aging WR who might get 40 to 50 grabs and six TDS, you take a chance. His rep in the locker room mighht hurt, but he was a model citizen in Buffalo. He won't make the money he wants to make, but he'll get a job, no doubt.

Sean McKenzie (Van Wert, OH)

Hello Scott, it seems that I am the only Cavs fan in the whole country who doesn't completely hate Lebron. I don't blame HIM for leaving Cleveland, I blame Gilbert and the front office for not getting him a supporting cast to get the title. Am I wrong for this view?

Stuart Scott

(2:15 PM)

No I don't think you're wrong. But I don't think there's blame really. Gilbert tried to get LeBron everything he could get him. It just didn't work. A lot of NBA teams haven't won the title in the last seven years. Only 5 tweams haver won the title since Lebron joined the league, and 25 didn't. YITs; not blame game. Yopu jusyt keep trying. People who hate LebRon, God bless em, but you hate a basketball player? What for? Did he hurt your family, take your job away, rude to your kids? C'mon. Have perrspective. And I 'm not talking about you, because you are the one Cleve fan who doesn't hate hi,m. But, grown men and women who burn his jersey--really?? Fold it up and put it in an archive.